Return to the Sky

      Return to the Sky
For the Dreamer Who Still Flies

As a young boy, I dreamed wide and high,
Built wings from wonder, carved clouds in the sky.
My cockpit? A box with a broom for a blade,
An ace of the air in the world I made.

I soared past rooftops, past worry and rain,
Dodging the fire of enemy planes.
With nerves of steel and a pilot’s grin,
I always found a way to win.

Each dive and roll, each daring feat,
Was powered by hope beneath small feet.
To guard my home, to brave the storm,
My cardboard plane became my form.

I came back home with wind-blown hair,
A hero welcomed with trumpet flair.
No medals pinned, just stars in my eyes
No one but me knew I’d ruled the skies.

And now… I’m tired. The day is done.
The race has faded with the setting sun.
But even as this body lies,
My soul prepares again to rise.

For sleep is just the hangar door
To launch me into dreams once more.
So tuck me in, don’t say goodbye
I’ll wake and once again…
Return to the sky.

For the flight that never ends,
Mark C. Waldrop

The Man in the Middle

   The Man in the Middle
Keep Your Eye on the Cross

Keep your eye on the Cross, where mercy was shown,
Where the weight of our sins was carried alone.
Not in anger, not wrath, but love pure and true
He cried, “Forgive them, they know not what they do.”

Two hung beside Him, each facing the end,
One mocked with pride, one called Him a Friend.
With trembling voice and soul laid bare,
A thief found grace hanging right there.

No time for good deeds, no long, righteous way,
Yet Jesus declared, “You’ll be with Me today.”
No works, no robe, no claim to defend
Just faith in the Savior, and love without end.

But ponder this truth as your heart takes in view:
The Man in the Middle died for me and for you.
The Cross was the bridge, the pain was the price,
And Heaven was opened through that sacrifice.

So when you feel lost, betrayed, or dismayed,
Look up to the place where redemption was made.
For the One in the middle, with thorns on His brow,
Still says to the seeking, “You’re with Me now.”

For God’s Honor and Glory
Mark C. Waldrop

Some Have Given All

Some Have Given All
In Honor and Remembrance

All have given something
A day, a year, a stand,
A letter home, a tearful hug,
A prayer with trembling hand.

Some have given comfort,
And others gave their youth,
Some bore the weight of silence,
Still fighting for the truth.

But some… some gave it all
Their breath, their blood, their name,
A folded flag, a final march,
A torch passed on in flame.

We walk in fields of freedom
Because their hearts stood tall.
All have given something…
But some have given all.

So pause beneath the banner,
Let grateful silence fall
For freedom has its cost,
And some have given all.

Mark C. Waldrop
Jhn 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

God’s Eternal Warranty

God’s Eternal Warranty

We strive and sweat, we fall, we try,
We lift our heads and question why.
We chase approval, seek to earn,
But grace is something we can’t learn.

For all our works, they fall apart
They cannot mend the broken heart.
We wear ourselves out, day by day,
Hoping to earn what none can pay.

But God, in mercy rich and true,
Declared a warranty for you.
Not by deeds or proud decree,
But through His Son who sets us free.

Normal wear and tear won’t do,
The cracks must show, the soul break through.
He doesn’t fix what’s merely worn
He redeems the hearts that mourn.

When we are shattered, torn and tossed,
He meets us there beneath the cross.
It’s not our polish, but our plea
That activates His warranty.

So cease your striving, bend the knee
Let Jesus be your guarantee
For through the Lamb, God warrants you,
Made whole, made clean, and made anew.

Tit 3:5  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

When I Stop Thinking About Me

When I Stop Thinking About Me

When I stop thinking about me,
My first thought is You—so pure, so free.
The clamor fades, the noise grows still,
And I’m drawn again to Your perfect will.

All of my dreams start rising anew,
Not built for me—but shaped by You.
For when I surrender what I once pursued,
You fill me with joy this world never knew.

The love of God revives these bones,
Like springtime winds through desert stones.
He lifts the weight, He breaks the night,
And floods my soul with morning light.

He puts a new song in my heart each day,
A melody grace alone could play.
So I’ll think less of “me,” and far more of “You”—
And that’s where all dreams start coming true.

Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

The hope of Heaven is God’s solution to sorrow

Heaven’s Hope, God’s Answer

Heaven’s Hope, God’s Answer
“The hope of Heaven is God’s solution to sorrow.”

When sorrow wraps its aching thread
Around the heart and fills with dread,
When tears fall down like silent rain,
And prayers rise up through grief and pain

There shines a light not made by sun,
A promise sealed by God’s own Son.
Beyond the veil, beyond the night,
There waits a dawn of endless light.

The hope of Heaven—pure, divine
God’s answer through the cross and time.
No wound too deep, no loss too wide,
That grace won’t reach and love won’t guide.

A place where partings turn to song,
Where broken hearts are made strong.
Where every tear is wiped away,
And sorrow has no place to stay.

So hold on tight when trials rise,
Lift up your soul, lift up your eyes.
For Heaven waits, and love is near
God’s healing hand will dry each tear.

Rev 21:4  'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

The Watchful Dove

For weeks she stayed through rain and sun,
No flinch, no flight, no thought to run.
A mother’s vow, so still, so true
On my back patio, in full view.

She nested quiet, calm, and bold,
Through morning heat and evening cold.
A sentinel of feathered grace,
Guarding life in that small space.

And now—oh joy!—she lifts her wing,
To show the miracle she brings.
A tiny fluff with blinking eyes,
A breath of hope beneath blue skies.

No trumpet blared, no loud parade,
Just love in silence gently laid.
A story told without a word—
Of life renewed, and hearts assured.

So here they are—this gentle pair,
A gift from God, beyond compare.
A dove, her chick, beneath the eaves,
With faith that builds in quiet leaves.

“He will cover you with His feathers,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Psalm 91:4 (NIV)

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

The First Step to Kindness

       The First Step to Kindness

If you want to be a kinder soul,
Not just in part, but in the whole,
Start with something small, yet true
Like holding a door and letting one through.

It seems so simple, hardly grand,
No need for riches or a helping hand.
Just pause a moment, let them go
And plant a seed that kindness will grow.

For every door that you hold wide,
Breaks a bit of selfish pride.
And every smile you chance to see
Reflects the heart of empathy.

So let it start—this gentle wave,
With quiet acts that make you brave.
You never know what love may do
When kindness first walks in through you.

Eph 4:32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Mark C. Waldrop

I Cannot Boast

I Cannot Boast
by Mark C. Waldrop

How could I boast of anything
I’ve ever seen or done?
Each breath I take, each step I make,
Is grace from Heaven’s Son.

How could I dare to claim as mine
The victories God has won?
The battle’s cry, the lifted sword,
Belonged to Christ alone.

Not in my strength, not by my hand,
Did mountains ever move—
But by His mercy guiding me,
And endless, patient love.

The praises that the world may sing,
They rightly should be His.
For I am but a vessel here
To show how great God is.

So let me live in grateful awe,
Not seeking worldly fame.
And may my every word and deed
Exalt His Holy Name.

1Co 1:31  so that, as it is written,  R23 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop